Separation of mixed sulfid ores.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IAMES annnnm, cr es/oxen HILL, new sown wants. Aos'maLrA, nssmnon, BY111mm nssxcumnn'rs, T MINERALS snranarxon NORTH AMERICAN CORPORATION.

SEPARATION OF MIXED SULFID ORES.

o No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, James I'IEBBARD, by occupation manager, subject ofthe King of Great Britain, residing at Sulphide Corporation LimitedCentral Mine, Broken Hill,

in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in the Separation of Mixed SulfidOres, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in or relating to theseparation of mixed sulfid ores and refers to the separation of suchores by flotationand more especially to the fractional or differentialflotation of certain sulfide from other sulfids. In the following claimsthe term ore is in tended to include concentrates, tailings, slimcs andother products containing metalliferous minerals.

This present invention relates more especially to certain improvementsin the agitatioirfroth process of concentrating ores of the general typedescribed in the prior Patents No. 835,120 of November 6, 1906, No.962.678 of June 28. 1910. and No. 1,064,723 of June 17, 1913, in whichthe ores are subjected to agitation and (or) aeration in a liquid in thepresence of a frothing agent, whereby a froth of the metallic particlesis produced. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is alsoapplicable to other knownmethods of flotation sepalraton. is inventionhas for its object 85 thyi'i atinent of mixed snlfid ores for Oht grindifl'ercntial separation of the me- Been proposed to increase the frothy when concentrating an ore conan insufliciency of metalliferous "by theagitation-froth process, by ltion of a small amount of finely d1-iirbon, whereby a low grade pul he made to produce a coherent frotli i6ch will carry with it thebulk of the a i;ferous particles. are nowdiscovered that if a finely pulyeri'zed ore is subjected to flotationseparation with agitation and (or) aeration with was frothing agent(such as eucalyptus oil) in presence of powdered charcoal or coke ographite or such like carbonaceous substance a preferential flotationseparation of ocittamsulfids from other sulfide can be ob- Specificationoi Letters Patent.

Application flied April lit, 1916. Serial No. 20,815.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

In adaptin this invention to the separation of mixe zinc and leadsulfids the ore in a finely pulverized condition is subjected toflotation separation with a itation and (or) aeration 1n the presence 0an amount of powdered charcoal, coke, raphite or other like"carbonaceous material equivalent to from 1 to 2 pounds per ton of oretreated. The separation may be. carried out with a small quantity of afrothing agent or the as circuit liquor may be that which has previouslybeen emulsified, 2'. e. hasprevi'ously been used for flotationseparation with a frothing agent. The circuit water should be neutral oralkaline but not acid. A differential float concentrate relatively richin lead sulfids is then obtained. The residues may be subjected toretreatment by the ordi nary flotation processes preferably with acid toobtain float concentrates relatively rich in zinc sulfids. In practicethe separating boxes may be arranged in sequence. the first series beingadapted for obtaining float concentrates relatively rich in lead and thesecond series float concentrates relatively rich 30 in zinc.

The following is an example of the application of this invention to thezinc section feed of the mill of the Sulphide Corporation of Broken Hillin New South lVales assaying silver 8.2 02.. lead 4.2%. zinc 17.3%. Thisore was subjected to flotation separation with agitation and aerationwith the zinc section mill waters as a separating medium in the presenceof an amount of finely ground coke equivalent to 1.7 lbs. per ton of oretreated. A difl'erential float in the first box was obtained assayingsilver 53.2 028:. lead 58.6% and zinc 13.8%.

This process is especially adapted for 0btaining leady floatconcentrates relatively rich in silver.

claim:-

1. A process for the selective separation of minerals which consist insubjecting to flotation separation, in the presence of a powdered earbonaceous material, an ore con taining mixed minerals each normallysusceptible to flotation separation, and bv the influence of saidcarbonaceous material difv, 106 ferentially modifying said normalflotation susceptibilities of said minerals to form a. flotation productrelatively high in certain mineral values anda'residue relatively highin other mineral valuu.

2. A process for selective separation of minerals which consists inagitatin and aerating an ore ulp containing mixe minerals, while mo ifing their relative flotation sueceptibilty y the presence of owderedcarbonaceous material in said u p to increase the proportion of oneminera in the float and the proportion of another mineral in theresidue.

3. A process for selective separation of minerals which consists inagltatin and aerating an ore ulp containing Inixe minerals, while moifying their relative flotation susceptibility by the presence ofpowdered coke in said pulp to increase the proportion of one mineral inthe float and the proportion of another mineral in the residue.

4. A process for selective separation of minerals which consists inagitating and aerating an ore pulp containing mixed minerals and a smallproportion of a mineralfrothing agent, While modifying the relativeflotation susceptibility of said mixed minerals by the presence ofpowdered carbonaceous material in said pulp to increase the proportionof one mineral in the float and the proportion of another mineral in theresidue.

.5. A process for selective separation of minerals which consists inagitating and aerating an ore pulp containing mixedminerals and a stun lproportion of a mineralfrothing agent, while modifying the relativeflotation susceptibility of said mixed minerals by the presence ofpowdered coke in said pulp to increase the proportion of one mineral inthe float and the proportion ofanother mineral in the residue.

'6. A process for selective separation of minerals which consists inagitating and aerating a nonacid ore 'ulp containing mixed minerals anda smial roportiori of a; mineralfrothing agent, While modifying therelativefiotation susceptibility of said mixedminerals by the presenceof owdercd carbonaceous material insaid pul p to increase the proportionof one mineralin the float and the proportion ofanother-mineral in.theresidue. a

7. A "f'seleeti've ore separating which consists in subjecting toflotation separation a comminntedore containing mixed process oretpulpcontaining mixed zinc and zinc and lead sulfids, while modifying theirrelative flotation susceptibility by resence of a powdered carbonaceousmateria in said ore to increase the proportion 0t lead sul- 'fic l inthefloat and the proportionof zinc sulfid in the residue.

8. A sielectiveore-separatingprocess which consists .in agitating andaerating' cad ,suilpulp containing mixed zincand agent and a small quantfids, while modifying their relative flotation suscepti ility by amodicum of owdered carbonaceous material in saidpu toim crease theroportion of lead sulfl in the 6 float and t e proportion of zinc sulfidin the residue.

9. A selective ore-separating process which consists in agitating andaeratinq an ore pulp containing mixed zinc and end sub fids, whilemodifying their relative flotation susceptibility by a modicum ofpowdered coke in said ulp to increase the proportion of lead sulfi inthe float and the proportion of zinc sulfid in the residue.

10. A selective ore-separating process which consists in agitating andaeratin%"a3' sulfi s with a small, proportion of amin'eralfrothingagent, while modifying the relative flotationsusceptibility of saidsulfids by a modicum of [powdered carbonaceous material in said ulp toincrease the proportion of lead sulfid in the float and the proportionof zinc sulfid in the residue.

11.: A selective ore-separating process which consists in agitating andaerating a non-acid ore pulp containing mixed zinc and lead sulfids witha small roportion of a mineral-frothing agent, While modifying therelative flotation susceptibility of said sultids by a modicum ofpowdered coke in said pulp to increase theproportion oflead sulfid in"the floathnd the proportion of zinc sulfid in the residue. V

A process for the separation of minerals which consists in SubJecting apulp of an orc containing mixed minerals to agitation and aeration in anon-acid pulp to which is added a small proportion of a mineral-frothingagent and actual] quan t of a powdered carbonaceous miat, rial by aflotation product relatively ig'h i tain values and a residue relativelyit other values are obtained. I I 13. A process for the .sepiir mixedzinc-lead sulfid ore Wlii' subjecting such an ore to 41 tion inanon-acid pulpto small proportionof a:

coke, whereby a flotation higrhin lead sulfid and. a J high in zincsulfid ure ob In testimony whereof h i'ifeifi name to this specificationin the if of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMEE Wit em HM Y nann coir o...n; cu 7

